All-SEC punter Kyle Christy's job at stake as Gators look to breath life into kicking game

Orlando freshman Johnny Townsend will get a chance to compete for the starting job

September 24, 2013|By Edgar Thompson, Orlando Sentinel

GAINESVILLE — The ineffectiveness of the Florida Gators kicking game has reached the point that even All-SEC P Kyle Christy's job is on the line.

A season after he led the SEC and contributed heavily to key wins against LSU and South Carolina, Christy has struggled to find his timing coming off an offseason shoulder injury. He dropped a punt against Tennessee deep in Florida territory and is averaging 39.5 yards on 11 punts to rank 12th in the SEC. He is averaging six yards fewer per punt than he did in 2012 (45.8).

Gators coach Will Muschamp said if Christy does not improve, he would scrap his plans to redshirt freshman Johnny Townsend, an all-state performer at Orlando Boone High. Townsend will compete this week with Christy.

"We need to get more production at the punter position, and that's what we'll do," Muschamp said.

Christy, who appeared on some preseason All-American teams, seemed to have a tight grip on the starting job. Last season, he landed three punts inside the 10-yard line against LSU and set a SEC single-game record with a 54.3-yard average against South Carolina.

Redshirt freshman K Austin Hardin, on the other hand, had a lot to prove as the replacement for school record-holder Caleb Sturgis. Hardin has missed field goals of 41 and 39 yards, with a long of 33 yards among his three makes.

Senior walk-on Brad Phillips will get a chance to unseat Hardin.

• NB Brian Poole will sit out the first half of Saturday's visit to Kentucky, his penalty for a being ejected in the second half for targeting a Tennessee player.